Folder lock



June 14, 1960 R. M. DUNNING FOLDER LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 16,1957 l INVENTOR 4 @ww ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 R. M. DUNNING 2,940,555

FOLDER LOCK Filed July 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYUnited States Patent FOLDER LOCK Robert M. Dunning, St. Paul, Minn,assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Company, Ramsey County, Minm, acorporation of Minnesota Filed July 16, 1957, Ser. No. 672,259

6 Claims. (Cl. 229--87) This invention relates to an improvement incarton folder locks and deals particularly with a type of lock which issimple to operate and which readily lends itself to machine operation.

Many producers who produce items packed in small cartons and folders areturning to machine operation in order to cut the labor cost of closingthe packages after the contents have been inserted. For example,products such as bacon have for many years been sold in a paperboardpackage or folder which is often packed by hand and closed by hand. Ifthe operation of closing the carton by hand can be eliminated,considerable labor cost may be saved. As a result, many producers ofproducts of this type are requesting packages which may be closedmechanically through the use of a simple machine once the contents havebeen placed therein.

Where the cartons are to be sold without an overwrap, the cartons areoften locked by suitable locking tongues or tabs which engage insuitable slots in co-operable panels. Due to the fact that the slotsthrough which the locking tongues must extend are usually somewhatdifiicult to force out of the plane of the carton panels or are somewhatdifficult to open so that the locking tongues may be inserted,difficulty has often been experienced in providinglocked packages whichare closed mechanically. An object of the present invention is toobviate some of the difficulty normally experienced in such anoperation.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a lock forlocking two panels from separation. One of the co-operable panelsincludes locking tongues which preferably project from an edge thereof.The other of the co-operable panels include locking slots into which thelocking tongues may engage. In forming the present lock the slots areformed by curved or angularly related cut lines so as to provide a partof. the panel within the cut lines which may be pressed out of the planeof the remainder of the panel. A fold line is provided extending acrossthe panel adjoining the ends of the cut line so that the part of thepanel which is within the cut lines may project beyond the fold line. Asa result, by folding the panel along this fold line, the portion of thestock defined by the cut lines is folded free of the folded portion ofthe panel permitting the locking tongues to be readily inserted in theslots.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the fact that theportions of the carton board which are defined by the cut lines projectsbeyond the unfolded portion of the carton to provide projecting earsagainst which the locking tongues may engage during the closingoperation. These ears guide the locking tongues through the slots as theclosing operation continues thus providinga positive engagement betweenthe locking tongues and the slot. portions'of the panel containing theslots which are on opposite sides of the transverse fold-line fold intosubstantially a common plane to prevent disengagement of the locln'ngtongues from the slots after the folder has been fully closed.

As the carton reaches a fully closed position, the v A further featureof the present invention resides in the provision of a carton having adouble lock one of which forms the original seal of the package and theother of which forms a means of reclosure. When the package is filledand closed the producers insist upon the use of a lock which cannotreadily be opened without tearing the lock or distorting the package toprevent pilferage of the carton contents. However, once the package isopened and a part of the contents removed a lock of this type isdisadvantageous as excessive time is required for reopening the package.As a result a second lock is provided which can be easily employed toreclose the package and which may be easily opened by the purchaserafter it has been reclosed.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folder in locked position as thepackage would appear as it is stored, shipped, and sold.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the opposite side of the folder shownin Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the package after it has been opened andreclosed.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the package in partially closedposition, the position of the section being indicated by theline 4-4 ofFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic View of the blank from which the folder isformed.

The folder is illustrated in general by the letter A. In general, thefolder includes a generally rectangular top panel 10 which is foldablyconnected along parallel fold lines 11 and 12 to locking flaps 13 and 14respectively. As the particular canton illustrated is designed for usein handling bacon or the like, no vertical side walls are provided ontwo edges thereof.

However, it should be understood, that sidewalls could be interposedbetween the top panel 10 and locking flaps 13 and 14 where a definitethickness of carton is desired. It should also be understood that whilepanel 10 is designated as the top panel, this has been done because thepanel 10 is usually uppermost when the package is displayed. During theclosing operation, the panel 10 actually forms the bottom panel.

sidewalls 15 and 16 are foldably connected to the remaining edges .ofthe panel 10. In the particular arline 17 with the'ends of the foldlines 11 and 12.

warclly inclined; fold lines 22 and 23 which converge towards the endsof"- the fold lines 19 and 23. In other words, the sidewall 15 isprovided with tapering ends which permit the package to have thicknessthrough the center portion. and taper to a minimum thickness at theends.

The sidewall 16is similarly constructed and is defined bycentralparallelfold lines 24 and 25 having converging fold lines 26 and 27 at one endthereof and convergingfold lines 29 and 30 at the other end. Thus thepackage tapers in thickness towards the fold lines 11 and 12. In theevent a definite thickness is desired, the parallel fold lines definingthe center portions of the sidewalls can extendtheentirelength thereoftoprovide a package of a predetermined depth.

The sidewall .;15 is ,foldably connected along the vfold lines describedto a generally triangular flap 31 while the sidewall 16 is similarlyconnected along the fold lines described toa generally triangular flap32. The locking flaps 13 and 14 are also generally triangular in shape,it being the object ofthe arrangement to provide. a carton formed in agenerally square or rectangular blank. 7

Theend ofthelocking flap 13 is cut off along a line 33 generallyparallelto the fold line 11 from which*pro .ject a'pair of lockingtongues 34 and 35. .The two locking projections 34 and 35'are separatedby a notch having a base 36 which is in' line with the flap end 33 andthe sides of which are preferably defined by slightly diverging cutlines 37 and 39. The projections 34 and 35 are also provided withoppositely directed locking projections 40 and 41 which are spaced fromthe flap end 33 by notches 42 and 43 respectively. V

The opposite fiap 14 is providedwith a transverse fold line '44 parallelto the fold line 12, and which corresponds with and substantiallyregisters with the flap end 33 of the flap 13. A pair of right angularcut lines 45 and 46 are provided in the flap 14 which have their outerends terminating along the fold line 44 and which incline outwardly asindicated at 47.and 49 which extend into the portion 50 of the flap 14which is outwardly of the fold line 44. The angular cuts 47 and 49 alsoinclude right angularly. turned cuts. 51 and 52 which intersect the foldline 44. The portions of the paperboard defined by the cut lines 45 and46 remain unspaced so that these portions of the blank will remain inthe plane of the portion 53 of the panel 14 which is between the foldline 12 and the fold line 44. V 1 e V e V The purpose of thisarrangement is perhaps best noted from an examination of Figure 4 of thedrawings. During the closing of the folder, after the contents areplaced upon the panel 10, the end flaps 31 and 32 are folded overtooverlie these contents. e

I position. During this operation, the end portion 50 of be' hinged fromthe plane'of the remainder of panel 7 'so that the interior of thepackage may be inspected. A

package may be reclosed after it has once been opened.

the flap I4 is foldedinto angular relation with the portion 53thereof-as is indicated in Figure 4 and the folding.

of these flaps is timed so that the end portion of the flap 13 whichbears the locking projections 34 and 35 overlies the par-L50 of thepanel. a

' As will be evident from Figure 4 ofthe drawings, the folding of' thepanel portion 50 into angular relation with the panel portion 53 causesthe cars 53 and 54 which are defined by the angular cuts and 46 projectbeyond the remainder of the panel portion 53 and remain in the planethereof. Thus as the folding operation continues, the lockingprojections 34 and 35 engage the projecting ears 53' and 54 and areguided through the L-shaped slots 45 and 46 thereby. In other words, asthe locking'projections 34 and 35 are engaged beneath the projectingears 53and 54 the completion of the folding operation must guide theseprojections into the slot; This is a big advantage particularly when thepackagesare closed by'machine operation. In order to fold the cartonmechanically, the flaps 31 and32 are folded upwardly and over thecontents of the package by amechanisrn similar to that used to fold thefirst folded flaps of a regular glued end carton. The flap portion isthen folded upwardly by suitable folding guide while the flap portion 53is: held horizontal so as to ang'ularly relate the panel-portions 50 and53. 'The combined panels 50 and 53 are then folded upwardly and over thecarton contents and the flap or locking panel 13 is simultaneouslyfolded up and over the contents the locking projections 34'and35engagein' surface contact with the portion 50 of the flap 14. Downwardpressure upon the flaps 13 and 14 then automatically lock the carton dueto the fact that'the locking projections are guided into the slots bythe ears 53 and 54.

' In the particular arrangement illustrated, a generally rectangularflap or panel 55, is formed in the top panel 10 by means of a generallyU-shaped cut line 56, the ends of i whichare connected by fold line 57.This fiap55 may.

The hook shaped projections '40 and 41 on the locking projections34 and35 engage the slots 45 and 46tightly enough so that these projectionsare usually torn during the original opening of the package. Thereclosure lock is provided for this reason. 7 A U-shaped out line isprovided in the panel13, the cut line including generally parallel sides'61 and 62 and a connecting base 63 having a central offset 64. TheU-shaped cut line 60 thus defines a tab 65 whichjmay be bent out of theplane of the remainder of the flap and which may therefore provide anopening into which a locking tab may engage. 7 I V The panel 14 is alsoprovided with a U-shaped out line 66, the ends of which terminate on atransverse fold line 67 which is parallel to the fold line 12. The cutline 66 defines a tab 69 which is integral with the end section 70 ofthe flap or panel'14. This tab 69 is designed to engage in the slotwhich is defined by thecut line 60 in the panel 13 to hold the packagereclosed. i 7

In the "reclosingjoperation, the flaps 31 and 32, are folded to overliethe remainder of the carton contents and the panel 13'is then foldedover the marginal edges of these flaps 31 and 3 2. As the panel 14 isfolded to: ward closed position, the end portion 70 of this flap orpanel is engaged between the fingers and is held in angularrelatio'n tothe adjoining portion 50 of, the panel 14 so that the tab 69 projectsdownwardly therefrom. As the panel 14 moves into completely foldedposition, the

tab 65 engages against the tab 65 defined by the cut ton folder and thecarton folder locks thereupon and While I haveendeavored to set forththe best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obviouschanges may he made within the scope of the following claims withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

Ijc-laim: 1; A folder lock for connecting a pair of panels, meanssupporting said panels along a pair of spaced parallel fold lines, saidpanels being folda ble into overlapping relation, one of said panelsincluding-apair of spaced locking projections on the free edge thereof,the other of saidpanels including a 'tiransyerse fold line extending.across said other panel parallel 'to said first named fold lines, saidtransverse fold line dividing said other panel into a hinged portionand'an end portion, a pair of ears cut from the body of the end portionof said'otherflap' adjacent to the transverse fold line, saidears'remairiingi 111' the; plane of the hinged portionof said otherpanel when. the two portions. of said other panel are angularlytransverse fold line.

2. The construction described in claim 1 andin which said ears aredefined by a pair of angularly related connected cut lines and aregenerally triangular in shape.

3. The construction described in claim 1 and in which said ears aredefined by a pair of angularly related cut lines one of which terminatessubstantially on said transverse fold line and the other of whichintersects said transverse fold line.

4. A folder for connecting a pair of panels and including means hingedlysupporting said panels along substantially parallel lines of fold, saidpanels being foldable into overlapping relation, one of said panelshaving a locking projection on the free edge thereof, the other of saidpanels including a transverse fold line parallcl to the first named foldlines and dividing said other panel into a hinged portion and an endportion, an ear cut from said end portion adjoining said transverse foldline and supported by said hinged portion to remain in the plane thereofupon angular relation between said panel portions, said ear, when hingedfrom the plane of said hinged portion providing an opening therein intowhich said locking projection may engage, a locking tab on said endportion of said other panel, and a slot in said one panel into whichsaid locking tab may engage.

5. The construction described in claim 4 and including a second foldline extending transversely of said other panel parallel to saidtransverse fold line dividing said end portion of said other panel intoa main portion and an edge extremity, said -tab being cut from said mainportion adjoining said second fold line and remaining in the plane ofsaid edge extremity when said edge extremity is folded into angularrelation with said main portion.

6. The construction described in claim 5 and in which said slot in saidone panel comprises a generally U-shaped slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,020,469 Woolslare Mar. 19, 1912.

2,666,567 Farrell Jan. 19, 1954 2,760,709 Bruehl et a1. Aug. 28, 19562,765,579 Gordon Oct. 9, 1956 20 2,804,258 Petter Aug. 27, 1957 FOREIGNPATENTS 149,404- Germany Mar. 9, 1904

